BASAL-CELL CARCINOMA IN QATAR

Background. There is an increasing incidence of basal cell carcinoma ( BCC) and skin cancer in general among various countries, where the sun is implicated as an important causative factor. Methods. Results of c linical and histopathologic examination and the incidence rate of sees were recorded over a period of 5 years at Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar. Results. Basal cell carcinoma is the commonest skin cance r in Qatar. The average annual incidence per 100,000 residents of work ing manpower, standardized to the 1986 census, is 9.9 for both sexes a nd at all ages. Expatriates formed the highest proportion and of these . Europeans were predominant. The tumor was more frequent in men, on s un-exposed areas, was mostly of the nodular and infiltrative type, and occurred in the 3rd, 4th, and 5th decades. As a whole, persons with r elatively heavily pigmented skin constituted 66.7% of the patients. Co nclusions. Intense sunlight exposure during outdoor work and leisure a ctivities in Qatar puts residents at increased risk for nonmelanoma sk in cancer, even in persons with relatively pigmented skin.